Description
VILLIAUMITE SPHERE
This is the polished villiaumite sphere. Diameter 2″ (52mm). Weight – 7.2oz (205 grams). Origin: Russia, Kola Peninsula.
Some information about villiaumite:
Villiaumite is a rare halide mineral composed of sodium fluoride, NaF. It is very soluble in water and some specimens fluoresce under long and short wave ultraviolet light. It has a Mohs hardness of 2.5 and is usually red, pink, or orange in color.
The red color is due to a broad absorption peaking at 512 nm. It is a result of radiation damage to the crystal.
It was first described in 1908 for an occurrence in Los Islands, Guinea and named after the French explorer, Maxime Villiaume.
